Spartacus VIP Paedophile Ring Placed Secret Adverts in Gay Press

Pop stars and politicians were part of secret paedophile ring which placed coded adverts in magazines, it has been alleged.

Metropolitan Police detectives are gearing up for a series of arrests relating to a VIP child sex abuse ring named "Spartacus".

Officers suspect that members of the ring, including pop stars, a bishop, a Soviet spy and a top politician, met at Elm Guesthouse in Barnes, southwest London.

Police have interviewed 12 alleged victims over claims that teenage boys were abused there during the 1980s, reported the Daily Express. The investigation formed part of Operation Ferndown, triggered by allegations by Tom Watson MP at Prime Minister's Questions.

Members of the Spartacus network allegedly placed adverts in the gay press containing coded references to the ring, which would have been recognised only by members.

Among the adverts reportedly placed by Elm Guesthouse was one that read: "10 percent for Spartacus club members."

In 1982, the then managers of the guesthouse, Maroon and Carole Kasir, were convicted of running a brothel. Shortly before she died in 1990, Ms Kasir reportedly said that the guesthouse used to "feature" boys from a nearby care home, who were supplied to paedophiles staying at Elm.

The property is today a private home and the occupants have no connection to the historical allegations.

Watson sparked controversy by standing up in parliament and alleging that a powerful paedophile network used to operate with strong links to Downing Street.